Prospect High School Awarded $5K 'Toolbox' Grant from Lowe's

The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education® grant to Prospect High School in Saratoga for 3D Design STEM Project.

Students will explore the use of 3D printers to create designs which can be later cast in metal through a centrifugal casting lost wax method.

 Prospect is one of more than 600 schools across the United States to be awarded a Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant this spring for improvement projects during the 2013-2014 school year. 

The visual arts STEM project will incorporate new 3D printing technology into the Art classroom to make small scale sculpture from bronze and aluminum metals. 

The teacher will instruct students how to design their own small sculpture with the computer 3D design program provided with the 3D printer; students will print out the sculpture in PVC thread using the 3D printer. 

The teacher will instruct students on how to use the lost wax method and centrifugal casting machine to cast their PVC sculpture model. Students will learn how to invest the model into a casting cylinder using a plaster/silica mixture, burn out the PVC model in a kiln, and cast the sculpture in bronze or aluminum using a centrifugal casting machine and oxygen-acetylene torch.

The teacher will instruct students on how to calculate the amount of investment material and water needed to fill the casting cylinder exactly by measuring the volume within the casting cylinder, calculate the displacement of the PVC model in the casting cylinder, measure the specific gravity of the type of metal used in the casting process, and calculate the correct weight of the metal needed to cast the sculpture from the mold created.

Students will learn how to finish their design using hand tools specific to the model making and sculpture casting industry (flex shaft grinders, chasing chisels, files, and buffing wheels.) 

The teacher will explain to students the methods industry uses computer design technology and the innovative possibilities of 3D printing for making art. The teacher will have students compare and contrast historical mold making and casting techniques from the ancient Egyptians to contemporary technological and medical uses.

The final sculptures will be displayed in the CUHSD student art venue at the end of the year for the public to view and learn about 3D printing and sculpture design.

The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2015

“The Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has benefited more than 5 million schoolchildren since its inception,” said Maureen Ausura, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. 

“With the support of Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers, Lowe’s is committed to continuing to improve the educational environment for students across the country.” 

Since its inception in 2006, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education has provided more than $40 million in grants to 8,500 schools, benefiting more than 5 million schoolchildren. 

Grants are available to K-12 public schools in the United States for a wide range of improvement projects. Schools may be eligible to receive Toolbox grants up to $100,000. 

Parent groups and educators can apply by visiting ToolboxForEducation.com. 

The fall cycle will open on Aug. 1, 2014.    

To view a full list of projects by state, visit ToolboxForEducation.com/winners. Select the spring 2014 winners tab, which will list the school and the supporting Lowe’s store available for assistance. 

Since 1957, the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has helped improve communities across North America through financial contributions and support for employee volunteerism.